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“Bring On The Referendum”

“There is deep-seated opposition to abortion in Ireland,” said Niamh Ui Bhriain (above) of the Life Institute. “If pro-abortion campaigners believe that Irish people are behind a move to legalize abortion, bring on the referendum.”

There has long been a concern that joining the European Union would eventually lead to more liberal abortion legislation. When Ireland signed the Maastricht Treaty in 1991, it inserted a clause to safeguard Irish abortion laws from E.U. interference.

For anti-abortion groups, the European human rights court ruling has confirmed their fears, particularly when the country as a whole is beholden to international financial help to keep afloat.

“At this time, when the E.U. and I.M.F. are actually running our country and we have lost every bit of sovereignty, the last thing people want is an outside agency making an intrusive judgement,” said Ms. Bhriain. “What we are seeing here is abortion campaigners using external courts in a bid to have abortion imposed on Irish people. If our laws make us different from everyone else in the European Union, I am glad of that difference.”

Oh boy, these old shrillsters again – I too say bring on the referendum, which will almost certainly relax abortion restrictions in this country, and no bad thing either. I suspect the quoted parties know this, but are feigning being unperturbed by this.

For anyone who’s interested, there is an Action on X meeting in the Gresham tonight at 7, with speakers including Vincent Browne. I’ve included some info on the X-case in my website link above..

“A January 2010 Irish Examiner/RedC poll about abortion in Ireland found that 60% of 18-35 year olds felt abortion should be legalised, and 10% had been in a relationship in which an abortion had taken place.”

Yes, to legislate for the X case (as per the ECHR ruling, the assist a doctor in determining when it is legal to prescribe an abortion). But any liberalisation of access to abortion would require a referendum.

as a liberal secular pro-choice mucksavage I take offence with this comment – most of the serious anti-abortion campaigners in this fair isle are from the well healed suburbs of the big smoke, where opus dei is pronounced ‘owpus die’

I get the fact the the pregnant woman should have a choice. It’s not up to someone else to tell them what to do. Pro-choice not anit-choice or pro-abortion, call it whatever you like but the distinction is important IMO.

I always thought that abortion should be legalised in this country, freedom of access etc. However, I am pregnant now, and I had a scan at 10weeks, and could see the foetus’ arms and legs waving around and a clear heartbeat. That isn’t a bunch of cells, that’s a life. Suddenly, prochoice isn’t so black and white for me. So my viewpoint is kind of changing, though I do think it should be allowed in this country under certain circumstances, such as rape.

You should have the right to change your view,that’s what it is surely to be pro-choice.You also have the right to educate people based on your own opinion and experience,they will decide for themselves.Pro choice should be sacrosanct

Yea once the hormones kick in and all that but lets not all pretend that in this day and age that we’re ‘precious’ when it comes to lives either. If we want to go down the ‘but it’s a life and all things alive must be protected’ argument, we’ll be here all day. Women deserve the right to choose may they be a rape victim, destitute, a drug addict, too young or just not ready. Saying that they also need to be educated on the choices and counselled accordingly.

“I do think it should be allowed in this country under certain circumstances, such as rape.”

If you feel that rape allows for an abortion whereas in other circumstances you feel abortion should be legal then your statement “That isn’t a bunch of cells, that’s a life. ” is complete crap as you are calling for a choice. It’s either a life or it isn’t! make up your mind.

If you take the stance that its a life, you don’t get to pick and choose when it lives and when it does not.If you take the stance its a choice, you don’t get to make another woman’s decision.

I spoke with 2 Irish girls separately who had to ‘get the boat’ and were both shocked at a few uk girls who were on 4th and 5th abortions. If access was easier how could legislation stop some people coming to the conclusion that it’s no big deal?